Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
There was an extra special buzz around the Chinook Seedery 140th USA Archery Target Nationals & U.S. Open, with Olympians being congratulated and those from the Paralympic team in attendance surrounded by well-wishers prior to their Paris adventure.
Brady Ellison, Catalina GNoriega, Casey Kaufhold and Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez – the Olympic team and incredible ambassadors of the sport – were greeted with hugs, handshakes and beaming smiles. The pride in their performances palatable among the archery community.
Ellison and Kaufhold combined to claim bronze in the mixed team competition. Ellison then went on to win silver in the men’s individual event. The raw emotion etched onto the faces of both medalists as a podium place was assured struck a chord with the public at large and not just those from the archery world.
Sport has the power to unite. And when those sporting moments are enjoyed while wearing the nation’s colors and on a stage the size of the Olympic Games, then it climbs to a whole new level.
“I think I had an understanding within the archery community what the reaction was going to be like,” Ellison began. “What surprised me is the complete non-archery people that have come up to us.
“We were recognized in Atlanta and Minneapolis in the airport on lay-overs. Delta announced it in the departure lounge and they gave me a standing ovation before we got on the plane.
“Just walking around in the store and being recognized. That’s been a lot different for me and it’s given me a lot more opportunities to spread the word about archery.”
Ellison and Kaufhold’s bronze medal win over India triggered scenes of unbridled joy within the Olympic venue. There was a clenched fist from Ellison and a roar from Kaufhold, something she likened to Godzilla. There were also tears. No doubt there were similar scenes within homes across the United States, a moment delivered by two outstanding athletes yet embraced by a nation.
For Ellison, these were his fifth Games. He had previously won two team silver and an individual bronze. For Kaufhold it was new territory. Although these were her second Games, she had yet to stand on an Olympic podium or experience the reaction that comes with that incredible honor.
“It’s been crazy being home now, being away from the Olympics part of it but still having the effect of it all,” Kaufhold said. “I think it’s been amazing. People have been so nice and so encouraging, saying congratulations, saying how much they loved our reaction.
"I think that’s the thing, what people appreciated the most is that they could see how much it means to us and it means a lot to me that they got up early to watch.”
The Olympic success will inspire. Whether that is rapper and record producer Dr. Dre, a young kid yet to even pick up a bow, an up-and-coming archer, or a Paralympic team with their own golden ambitions.
Eric Bennett is a soon-to-be five-time Paralympian. He arrived in Paris on Wednesday morning, along with the five other members of the team, Tracy Otto, K.J. Polish, Matt Stutzman, Jason Tabansky and Jordan White.
He commented ahead of departing for Paris, “That mixed team medal is huge for the sport here in this country. Both of those two, as anyone knows, are icons and heroes to many and so to see them team together and win on that biggest of stages was awesome and then the reaction from both of them, the joy, the hugs, the primal screams, it was fun to watch for sure.
“And it’s inspiring for those of us who are headed there. Watching that motivates me, inspires me and I’m looking forward to going there and doing the same.”
Everything has led to this, and it's just the beginning. Learn more about our athletes' dreams becoming a reality as part of Making Team USA, presented by Xfinity at teamusa.com/making-team-usa.
